Friday, January 8, 2010

There won't be anyone quite like Adam Lambert on the next season of "American Idol."

Easygoing "Idol" judge Randy Jackson told reporters during a Friday teleconference that he expected to see clones of the over-the-top eighth season runner-up or even croony champion Kris Allen show up to audition for the Fox talent competition's ninth season, which premieres Tuesday (8 p.m. EST), but there were none to be found this time around.

"Usually, whoever comes in first or second, that next season of auditions, you have a lot of those kinds of people," he said. "It's almost like a signal to everyone at home that was like them that now it's time to try out for 'American Idol.' It didn't happen like that this time. We got a very interesting, unique cast that's only unique to this season nine."

Jackson, who serves on the judging panel with Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and newcomer Ellen DeGeneres, said audition cities Dallas and Atlanta offered singers with the most starpower while Orlando, Fla., was "really strange" in terms of finding talent. He also said he was on the lookout for female crooners because the past two winners have been male.

"I think there's some really talented girls that showed up this time," he said.